Starting gate



Oct. 13, 1942. 15. J. 505.0 ET AL Re, 22,203

STARTING GATE Original Filed Aug. 7, 1939 '7 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJMVJ BOSIO y HOYT cur ETT .4 TTORNE Y Oct. 13, 1942. D. J. BOS IO ETAL 0STARTING GATE Original Filed Aug. 7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5" 2 :g sa

Reissued Oct. 13, 1942 STARTING GATE Don J. Bosio, Santa Monica, andHoyt Clay Puett,

Beverly Hills, Callf., assignors to Puett Electrical Starting GateCorporation, Beverly Hills, Calii'., a corporation of CaliforniaOriginal No. 2,232,675, dated February 18, 1941, Serial No. 288,800,August 7, 1939. Application for reissue February 2, 1942, Serial No.429,345

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in starting gates which areparticularly adapted for starting horse races.

A great deal of difficulty has been experienced in the past in startingsuch races evenly because of the nervous temperament of the animals.When horses were started in the open they came in contact before therace started and the jockeys could interfere with each other. There wasnothing to keep the horses lined up or faced ahead.

Stalls were then used which kept the horses heading in the properdirection but some horses would start out ahead of the signal and wouldhave to be called back. In order to prevent this, various types ofreleasable barriers were tried. So far as we are aware, none of thestarting devices in use previous to our invention has been entirelysuccessful. They have been unreliable or irregular in operation or haveallowed horses to start out diagonally, thus interfering withother'horses, or have otherwise been the cause of numerous false starts.1

It is'an object of our invention to provide a starting device whichovercomes the objections above stated. It is a further object of ourinvention to provide a starting device which will prevent horses andjockeys from interfering with each other before the start which willprevent horses from rushing the barrier and which will insure that allthe horses start in properly spaced relation and without any tendency tofollow a invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show our invention in its present preferredembodiment and illustrate the new and improved principles of ourconstruction. While they show a particular form in considerable detailthey are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig, 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of the device showingone stall and a pair of starting gates provided with lock means,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same structure,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a detailed plan view, partly in section,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of a part of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a mobile overhead structure carrying a'plurality of stall forming partitions,

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation, showing the details of the releasablelock mechanism,

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8 and,

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit, including switch,relay, signal device and lock releasing means.

The starting device, in its entirety, as shown in Fig. 7, consists of anelongated overhead structure S supported at each end upon wheels orrollers W for facilitating removal from the track after starting a race.Pairs of depending tubular members It, Fig. 3, are attached to theoverhead structure at regular intervals therealong. These members formpartitions, dividing the device into a plurality of stalls.

An elongated framework I4 is carried by the lower end of each partition.Each framework extends in the same plane as the partition and at rightangles to the length of the overhead structure, thus serving further todefine the stall and to provide an extended guide to keep the horseproperly headed during the start.

It will be noted that the framework is substantially triangular incross-section, as shown in Fig. 6, with the base uppermost. The entireframework, as well as a part of the partition, is covered with paddingii to prevent injury to horse or rider. The widest part of the frameworkis at about the height of a horse's chest and serves as an effectivebumper. The lower part, tapering inwardly, will not interfere with thehorse's legs unless he kicks and then it will prevent him from injuringthe horse in the next stall. The lower edge of the padded frame isspaced well above the ground and consequently the entire device may bemoved on and off the track readily. as desired.

An auxiliary structure, generally designated as I8, is attached to andextends forwardly from the foremost tubular post I2. This structure ismade up of horizontal diverging members 20, vertical members 22,crossbars 24 and braces 25. The entire structure is preferably weldedtogether and to post l2 but any other suitable means of connection maybe used.

Bearing blocks 28 are attached to crossbars 24 looking in the directionof arrows 4-4 in Fig. 3, and bearing caps 30 are suitably attachedthereto,

as by bolts, 32, to form therewith bearing members for receiving thehinge pins of the gates.

The gates or obstructions G [are substantially rectangular in shape withslightly rounded corners at their free ends and are provided withsuitable bracing, such as shown at 34. The rear ends of the gates arestraight and have reduced upper and lower extensions serving as hingepins which fit within the bearings formed by members 28 and 30. They arethus firmly supported by the widely spaced bearings for swinging about avertical axis with a minimum of play and consequent tendency to rattle.Padding, not shown, may be carried on each gate to prevent any injury tothe horse.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a pair ofgates and their angularity in closed position. This is best shown inFig. 2 in which are illustrated a pair of gates G, G, pivotally carriedat their rear ends 'by the auxiliary structure, their free endssubstantially meeting at the center line of the stall. Each gate standsat an angle of substantially to the fore and aft axis of the stall orthe framework and partition forming the stall. While the angle is notcritical it should be susbtantially less than a right angle with thepartition. The 45 angle has been found to produce very satisfactoryresults in actual use. The gates are held in closed position byreleasable lock means 38, 40, which will later be described in detail.vWhen the lock means is released, the gates swing open to a positionindicated by dotted lines in the left hand part of Fig. 2. i

The success of this device is largely due to the positioning of thegates with respect to the structure and the angularity between the gatesthemselves. As previously stated, the wide portion of the paddedframework is at about the height of the horses chest. The gates extendapproximately two feet above the framework. The foremost portion of theV formed between them is in the center of the stall. Because of theacute angle between them, a horse who pushes forward against the gateswill be urged to a central position. The height of the gates is suchthat the horse will engage them with his nose rather than his chest.Since his nose is quite tender, this arrangement has been found to behighly effective in discouraging horses from rushing the barrier.

The gates swing thru only about 45 from closed to full open position andconsequently they can swing out of the way so quickly that even a horsebreaking fast will not be hindered or injured by bumping into them.Since they swing symmetrically away from center they form a visual guidetending to start the horse straight.

The framework l4 extends forwardly substantially beyondthe forward endof the gate. Consequently each gate swings to an open position withinthe confines of the framework as shown in the lower left portion of Fig.2. This leaves a wide open stall, completely padded and extending wellforward of the horses standing position, which starts him straight andkeeps him from crowding the next horse before the race is well underway.

As a final measure, screens 42, 44 are mounted above the gate andauxiliary structure to preclude any possibility of horses or ridersinterfering with each other. These screens are preferably composed oflight metal frames and relatively open wire mesh. Thus they are quiteeffec tive for their intended purpose but do not interfere with visionto any great extent. Horse and rider will still be aware ofeverythinggoing on about them. While the screens are shown as separate structuresit is obvious that the gates and auxiliary structures may be extendedupwardly and screening applied to the upper portions without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention.

The arrangement of the resilient means for urging the gates to openposition is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The vertical posts 46 formingthe rear edge of each gate are provided with rigidly attached levers orbell cranks 48. Anchorage bars 50 are welded to braces 26 and carry'clevises 52. Pieces of resilient or elastic cord 54 commonly referredto as shock-cord," are stretched between the clevises 52 and the freeends of bell cranks 48 with sufficient tension to snap the gates openvery suddenly when the locks are released. The bell cranks are soarranged that the leverage of the shock-cords remains substantially thesame thruout the swing.

Snubber members 55 are blocks of resilient material, such as rubber,each having a high center portion and downwardly sloping upper surface.When the lower edge of a gate strikes this sloping surface it iseffectively slowed down to a stop with practically no noise. Notches ordepressions 58 are formed in the sloping surface of each snubber,serving as detents to receive the gate bottoms and prevent them fromrebounding.

The use of welded tubular construction thruout makes a very rigid andrugged structure and provides a strong but light weight gate which haslittle inertia and hence is adapted for rapid opening.

The releasable lock means, shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, serves tohold the gates firmly in closed position until released. This is veryimportant since finely trained horses, prepared to run at the sound of abell, will make false starts whenever loose, rattling gates makemetallic clicks.

As shown in Fig. 8, member 38 is a hollow rectangular casing carrying arigidly mounted keeper 60. The casing is also provided with an openingor passageway 62 of sufficient size to freely receive members 64 and 66.The former is a latch, pivoted at 68 and provided with a head adapted toaccurately engage the keeper to hold the lock portions firmly together.The member 40 is a casing similar in form to casing 38. Members 4| arestrips of rubber, felt, or other elastic or yieldable material carriedby each casing and adapted to be slightly compressed when the casingsare locked together.

Rod H1 is pivotally attached to latch 64 at 12 and is slidably engagedin tube 14. The rod carries a piston or shoulder 16. Between thisshoulder and the cap 18 threadably attached to the upper end of the tubeis a coil spring 80. This spring, which is under considerable compression, constantly tends to force rod 10 downward, consequently urginglatch 64 to inoperative position.

Release of the latch is normally prevented by trigger 82, formed as acontinuation of lever 66. Meeting faces 84 of the trigger and 86 of thelatch are so angularly arranged with respect to pivot 88 that they willdisengage only under the influence of external force.

Rod 90 is pivotally attached to lever 66 at 92, its lower end slidablyextending into solenoid 54. Spring 96, in compression between thesolenoid and shoulder 98, urges rod 90 upward and trigger 82 intolocking position. Electric wires. not shown, lead from the solenoid to asource of potential, as diagrammatically shown. in Fig. 10. Whenelectric current is passed thru the solenoid it attracts rod 90, pullingit down and disengaging trigger 82 from latch 54. Thereupon spring 80forces rod 10' downward, swinging latch 64 to inoperative position, thusallowing ,the gates to swing open under the influence of the resilientmeans previously described. A resilient member I00, such as a rubberring, serves as a bumper for collar I0.

The latch may also be released manually'by means of disk I02 carried Onpin I04. An operating knob I06 urged upwardly by spring I is attached tothe upper end of pin I04. Pressure on knob I06 will disengage trigger 02and release latch 64.

To lock the gates, the two casings are first brought together with theirflat yieldable faces engaging and slightly compressed. Knob I06 is thenpressed down, moving trigger 82 out of the way. Rod'10 is then pushed upby means of knob IIO against the force of spring 00. This brings latchhead 65 into locking engagement with keeper 60. While it is held in thisposition knob I06 is released and trigger-face 04 engages latch face 06.The lock is now set and ready for operation.

It will be seen that we have provided a lock which is readily engagedand which may be released manually or electrically at will, neitherarrangement interfering with the other. The snug engagement of the lockparts makes a practically rattle proof gate. The entire arrangement isneat, compact and reliable.

In order to permit observation of the vcondition and operation of thelock mechanism at all times, one wall of each casing may be made oftransparent material, as indicated at H2 in Fi 9.

Fig 10 shows diagrammatically how a plurality of gates may be operated.from a single source of electricity. In this figure each of thesolenoids 94 is connected in parallel across the circuit which includesbattery B, relay R, and switch III. A signal IIS, generally a bell, isalso connected in parallel across the circuit.

In operation switch III is closed, sending a current thru the solenoidof relay R. The relay then closes the main circuit and the current frombattery B passes thru solenoids 04 and signal H6. This positivelyinsures that all gates will open simultaneously with each other and withthe sounding of the starting signal.

There may, in some cases, be as manyas sixteen solenoids operating anequal number of gates. Since they each draw a relatively heavy currentthe tctal may well be several hundred amperes. The purpose of the relayR is to avoid passing this heavy current thru manually operated switchIll.

An advantage of the parallel-type circuit is that any number of gatesmay be cut out without any rearrangement of the wiring of those whichare to be used.

The fluid controlling means, and fluid conductor or similar language inthe claims designate electrical means, or hydraulic, or pneumatic means.

In the claims, the term a magnet having relatively movable parts" 'orsimilar terminology designates a magnetic winding and all parts made ofmagnetic material both fixed andmovable, such as the core fixed to theenergizing winding and the armature, or in other words the metallicpart'which is attracted by the core when the latter is electricallyenergized.

While we have described our invention in detail in its present preferredembodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, afterunderstanding our invention, that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Weaim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of support members, a gatepivotally attached to each support member, said gates in closed positionextending inwardly and forwardly with their free ends substantiallyadjacent, each gate making an angle of approximately 45 with the foreand aft axis of said support members, a casing carried by each gate,said casings having faces meeting along a fore and aft plane, a. keepercarried by one casing and a latch carried by the other casing andelectric and manual means for releasing said latch.

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of gates, a casing carriedby each gate, a keeper rigidly mounted in one casing, a latch pivotallymounted in the other casing, resilient means urging said latch toinoperative position, trigger means to hold said latch in lockingposition, electrical means carried by one casing to release said triggermeans and manual means carried by the other casing to release saidtrigger means.

3. In a starting gate for horses, an overhead support, ground engagingwheels, frame members for connecting said support to said wheels,partitions depending from said support and each terminating at its lowerend in a framework forming the lower end of a stall partition, a gatepivotally carried by the forward end of each partition by means of upperand lower spaced pivots, padding carried by said framework, said gatesbeing positioned above said padding, said gates in closed position beingin V-shaped formation, the front and rear faces of each gate extendingsubstantially vertical and forming an angle between the rear facesthereof of approximately degrees, locking means associated with theforward free ends ofeach pair of gates, a lever extending laterally fromeach gate intermediate of said spaced pivots and adjacent its pivotedend, and elastic means connected to each lever and to a respectivepartition whereby to cause a quick opening of a pair of gates uponrelease of said locking means, said locking means comprising a latchcarried by one gate, a detent on the other gate positioned to be engagedby said latch, and an electric solenoid carried by said one gateadjacent the free edge of the gate and being operably associated withsaid latch for releasing same.

4., In a structure used for a barrier on a race track, two or more pairsof obstructions, means mounting said obstructions for arcuate movementfrom a position in angular relation to each other to a position ofsubstantial parallelism, means controlled by fluid and mounted on anobstruction of each pair for initiating release 01 that pair ofobstructions and locking means engaging the other obstruction of thatpair for causing that pair of obstructions to be established in lockingrelation, said locking means 'being biased to disengage the otherobstruction,

said means controlled by fluid being adapted to, release the lockingmeans and to allow it to disengage the other obstruction, and means forsimultaneously actuating each of said trolled means.

5. A race track starting device comprising a framework, three or morevertical partitions extending therefrom and transverse obstructionsextending between pairs of partitions and converging toward each otherin a forward direction, means pivoting each obstruction on an adjacentpartition, electrical means and vertically moving parts mounted on oneof said obstructions of a pair of partitions, said parts beingassociated with the adjacent obstruction whereby in one position of theobstructions the said electrical means will permit the parts to maintainthe obstructions in converging relation and actuation of the electricalmeans whil the obstructions are in that position causes release of saidparts, and spring means for causing outwardly swinging movement of theobstructions, and means for simultaneously actuating each of saidelectrica means.

6. A race track starting device comprising a framework, three or morevertical partitions extending therefrom and transverse obstructionsextending between pairs of partitions and converging toward each otherin a forward direction, means pivoting each obstruction on an adjacentpartition, and fluid controlling means having vertically moving partsmounted on one of said obstructions of a pair of partitions, said fluidcontrolling means being associated with the adjacent obstruction wherebyin one position of the obstructions the said fluid controlling meanswill permit the parts to maintain the obstructions in convergingrelation and actuation of the fluid controlling means while theobstructions are in that position causes release of said parts, andspring means for causing outwardly swinging movement of the said obstructions, and means for simultaneously actuating each of said electricalmeans.

7. A starting gate for race horses having an overhead structure, and aplurality of partitions extending therefrom, pairs of obstructionsmounted on adjacent partitions and forming forwardly extending Vs whenin closed position, a biased holding means on one obstruction of eachpair having a member extending to and engaging the other obstruction,and fluid means on one obstruction of each pair including a fluidconductor from a power source for initiating actuation of the holdingmeans to release said obstructions, spring means to move theobstructions to open position, and means for simultaneously actuatingeach of said holding means.

8. In a starting device for horse racing, comprising an overheadstructure, a plurality of partitions depending from said overheadstructure defining a stall between each pair of adjacent partitions, anda closure for each stall, said closure comprising a pair of gates, avertical pivot for each of said gates, said gates when in closedposition being in V arrangement with their meeting edges locatedforwardly of said pivots, electromagnetic means for effecting theoperation of said gates, said electromagnetic means including a magnethaving relatively-movable parts, at least one of said parts beingmounted for movement with one of said gates about the vertical pivotthereof, and biasing means for opening said gates when released by saidelectric means, said V- gates being of sufficient height and width sothat the horse pushing forward against the gates will be urged toward acentral position, and the structions,

nose of said horserather than its chest may enuse said gates.

9. A race device for horse races having horse separating elements, aplurality of pairs of obeach obstruction being pivotally mounted onsubstantially a vertical axis adjacent a separating element, each pairof obstructions converging forwardly from a pair of said sep aratingelements to form a V when in closed position, said V being of sufficientheight andwidth so that a horse pushing forward against the obstructionswill be urged forward to a central position and the nose of said horserather than its chest may engage said obstructions, means including amagnet having relatively movable parts for holding and releasing eachpair of obstructions, at least one of said magnet parts being mounted onthe vertical axis of one of said obstructions, spring means for openingsaid pairs of Obstructions when released by said means last named, meansmaintaining each pair of obstructions in substantially parallel relationto each other when they are in open position, a circuit connected tosaid magnets and an electric switch in said circuit, each pair ofobstructions forming a straightaway for guiding each horse when saidobstructions are in open position.

10. A race device for horse races having horse separating elements, aplurality of pairs of obstructions each obstruction being pivotallymounted on substantially a vertical axis adjacent a separating element,an overhead structure, a support for each separating element and one ofeach adjacent pair of obstructions, each pair of obstructions convergingforwardly from a pair of i said separating elements to form a V when inclosed position, said V being of sufllcient height and width so that ahorse pushing forward against the obstructions will be urged forward toa central position and the nose of said horse rather than its chest mayengage said pair of obstructions, means including a magnet havingrelatively movable parts for holding and releasing its pair ofobstructions, at least one of said magnet parts being mounted on thevertical axis of one of said obstructions, spring means for opening saidpairs of obstructionswhen released by said means last named, meansmaintaining each pair of obstructions in substantially parallel relationto each other when they are in open position, a circuit connected tosaid magnets and an electric switch in said circuit and each pair ofobstructions forming a straightaway for guiding each horse when saidobstructions are in open position.

11. In a starting device for horse racing, comprising an overheadstructure, a plurality of partitions depending from said overheadstructure defining a stall between each pair of adjacent partitions, anda closure for each stall, said closure comprising a pair of gates, avertical pivot for each of said gates, said gates when in closedposition being in V arrangement with their meet- 12. A race device forhorse races having horse separating elements, a plurality of pairs ofobstructions, each obstruction being pivotally mounted on substantiallya vertical axis adiacent a separating element, each pair of obstructionsconverging forwardly from a pair of said separating elements to form a Vwhen in closed position, said V being of suflicient height and width sothat a horse pushing forward against the obstructions will be urgedforward to a central position and the nose of said horse may engage saidobstructions, means including a magnet having relatively movable partsfor holding and releasing each pair of obstructions, said magnet beingmounted on the vertical axis of one of said obstructions, spring meansfor opening said pairs of obstructions when released by said means lastnamed, means maintaining each pair of obstructions in substantiallyparallel relation to each other when they are in open position, acircuit connected to said magnets and an electric switch in saidcircuit, each pair of obstructions forming a straightaway for guidingeach horse when said obstructions are in open position.

13. A race device for horse races having a pair said gates will be urgedforward to a central position and the nose of said horse rather than itschest may engage said gates a keeper carried by one gate and a latchcarried by the other gate, and electric and manual means for releasingsaid latch.

14. In a device of the class described, a pair of gates, a keeperrigidly mounted on one gate, a latch pivotally mounted on the othergate, resilient means urging said latch to inoperative position, triggermeans to hold said latch in looking position, electric means carried byone gate to release said trigger means, and manual means carried by theother gate to release said trigger means.

15. A race device for horse races having a pair of support members, anobstruction pivotally attached to each support member, said obstructionsin closed position extending inwardly and forwardly with their free endssubstantially adjacent, each obstruction making an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees with the fore and aft axis of said supportmembers, said obstructions when in closed position being of sufiicientheight and width so that a horse pushing forward against saidobstructions will be urged forward to a central position and the nose ofsaid horse rather than its chest may engage said obstructions, a casingcarried by one of said obstructions, a latch carried by said casing, akeeper carried by the other obstruction, and electric and manual meansfor releasing said latch.

16. In a device of the class described, a pair of gates, a casingcarried by one of said gates, a keeper rigidly mounted on the othergate, a latch pivotally mounted in said casing, resilient means urgingsaid latch to inoperative position, trigger means to hold said latch inlocked position, electric means carried by said casing to release saidtrigger means, and manual means carried by the other gate to releasesaid trigger means.

DON J. BOSIO. HOYT CLAY PUE'I'I.

